Family-Authored ICU Diaries to Reduce Fear in Patients Experiencing a Cardiac Arrest (FAID Fear)

The present study will: Aim 1: Enroll 15 family members of CA patients to (a) pilot recruitment procedures, (b) estimate retention, and (c) assess acceptability of study procedures. Family members will be randomized to either complete an ICU diary or to a control condition, and will complete surveys in the ICU, at patient discharge, and 30 days post-discharge. Aim 2: Obtain an estimate of the association of intervention v. control with (i) family member fear (operationalized as cardiac anxiety about the patients' cardiac condition) at hospital discharge and (ii) family member PTSS 30 days post-discharge. Exploratory Aims: Obtain an estimate of the association of intervention v. control with family member aversive cognitions towards exercise at hospital discharge.